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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Just like the Cougar football team, Ben Krittle was built,
not born, and since two thousand and nineties built himself
into the go to source on the radio and online
for all things Cougars. This is Cougars Sports with Ben
Krittle on one O three nine at ninety eight three ESPN.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
The fans thousands, why and I know, hey, you got
to they get on your own book. We don't have
to grow up. We can take forever. Devin Norms so
far trick government Kola underneath O isisen suns. I could
give a thousands?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Why good? Hey go oh, I have to go? Is that?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Welcome back to Cougar Sports.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Here one O three point nine and ninety eight point
three ESB and the fan Ronald three men, we were here,
Red Hammer, my calls about my sigh, hold it down.
While Ben Crittle is in Hawaii on vacation on the
Lovely Beatures. I don't know where he's at, but he's
enjoying himself. We are alive here remote from the Red
Men's Heritage Farm Store in orm Utah, located at four
twenty West eight hundred north farm to you celebrate Redmond
(01:10):
Day with us. It's a great event, right now you
got members of the BYU men's basketball team, Richie Headband,
the Tasmanian Devil, Saunders till I left right.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Now as he speak.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
We just got off the line with Tyler Moruss, one
of the new additions. It's so many new faces for
this team. Great great players. Robert right, the third is
another one. Canard Davis Junior. I don't want to miss
anybody but Dominic Diamande. I you look at the tape
of all of these guys and how they're gonna fit in.
All you can do is get excited after what happened
this last season. The head coach to our right, he
(01:42):
needs no introduction at all. Everyone knows who he is.
We got the BYU men's basketball coach, Kevin Young with
this coach, thanks for joining us today of course.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Man. Now this is a great event, beautiful day, big
turnout too.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Man, this is great.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah, because you see a lot of these like radio
events with people like show up and you are like
a dealership or whatever.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I've never seen an event this week. This is incredible.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
We do it right here at ESB and the fan
as we were for a lot from ultimate ticket. We
don't just like to bring the radio. We want to
bring the trailer, the whole atmosphere, everything. We want to
do it right for the fans and for the players.
Uh because at the end of the day, you know, Cougarnation,
it's it's the best fan base, I think in the country. Coach,
you describe just your first season being here. We know
(02:27):
that the X and x's and o's they matter a lot,
but there's a lot more that it goes on to
b YU than just basketball.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Absolutely, I mean, obviously, the family atmosphere is one that's uh,
you know, I personally love you know, I got, you know,
my family out of everything. My boys over at b
YU basketball camp right now as we speak. But yeah, man,
it is more than basketball, you know. It's uh, you know,
our guys are well rounded. You know, you guys have
been around them, and uh, you know, we try to
(02:56):
recruit to that. We try to get guys that want
to come in and uh, you know, be a part
of everything.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
That BYU has to offer.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
And you know, you got a lot of people in
the community that take care of them, you know, like
our guys here at Revmens.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So you know, it's a great place to be. So
you've been here for a year now.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
You started the job a year ago, and when anyone
starts the first job, you pick up lots of things
that you're like, I don't know how that's gonna work.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
I'm not used to this yet.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Was there anything for you that you started, whether it
was recruiting or anything else that you were like, Okay,
this is gonna be an adjustment to figure out.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And then now you.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Look back and you're like, Okay, I kind of had
that that wasn't as tough as I thought it.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Was gonna be.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Oh man, Yeah, there's a lot. Honestly, I'd say almost
every part of the job. But if I had to
narrow it down to a couple, I do think recruiting,
you know a lot. A large part of that is
my staff. You know, they do a good job of
just keeping me dial then and making sure I'm looking
at the right things and spending my time the right way.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
And that's been an adjustment.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
But I think the more we've gone through it, you know,
it's gotten a little bit.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
More comfortable for me.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
You're definitely out of the my normal stuff that I
was doing in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
But again, credit to my staff of keeping me organized there.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
We know you came from the NBA, but there has
to be some type of similarities in some type of way.
How has that experience helped you thrive into college setting.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, I think where it shows it's head The most,
I think is just the game planning.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
You know, in the NBA, you're doing it.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
You know, if you're on a good team, you're you're
up too close to one hundred a year or thereabouts,
and so you know, you get into the college space
and you know, you feel like you need to take
a lot of the things that you got so much
practicing in the NBA as far as putting game plans together,
whether that's how you're going to attack a defense or
whether it's how.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You're gonna try to slow you know, a star player down,
or what have you.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
But I think that's that's probably where I've leaned on
my NBA experience the most.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
There's a lot of talk about a lot of the
accolades that came from last year, but one of my
personal favorites is how Richie Saunders went from a guy
who b y U fans would say, we love him,
he's awesome, to now the rest of the country being
able to say, oh my gosh, that kid over in Provo,
he's awesome. You may say the answer was we just
stayed out of his way. But what things do you
(05:14):
felt feel like changed or what things do you feel
like you helped Richie with in order for him to
become the sensation and for the rest of the world
to learn who he was.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
I think, you know, the way that we play is
pretty open and free, and we encourage guys to be
really aggressive, and we do it in a in a
spaced environment, and I think the combination of all those things.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Really helped, you know, Richie.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
But at the end of the day, I mean, he's
such an unbelievable worker, and he put himself in a
position to go out there and take advantage of the
opportunities that were given to him, and by doing that,
he earned a lot of trust, you know, from me
and from the rest of our staff and from his
teammates where they were you know, oldtimate looking looking for him.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
You know, especially in big moments.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I think that's probably an area where he probably grew
more than anything is. You know, He's a guy that
delivered in a lot of key moments for us throughout
the course of the season and a lot of close games.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
How is the off season being coached?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
There was a video that posted on social media shout
out to the social media teams that said, Hey, we're
gonna do a few things.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
It's your voice, but then I want you guys to play.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Has chemistry been the biggest you know off season building
that continuity back from last season.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Yeah, and I think it's just going to continue to
be a point of emphasis. You know, We've had guys
coming in at different different phases. You know, this summer,
you know, AJ's going out to some USA stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
We want to get him in here and.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Get him some some work under his belt, you know,
within our style, within our structure, and so honestly, I'm
still learning how to operate in the college offseason space
is a lot different than the NBA world. But we
definitely wanted to get the guys in the gym together.
I think, not just so they can get to know
each other, but you know, just start building out the
(06:58):
identity that we want our team to play.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Like. Every year is different.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You know, last year, our group, you know, once it
finally clicked, it really started to come together, and that
every year it happens at a different pace, and so
we're trying to get a little bit of a jump start.
I think our staff has a bit more continuity, you know,
we kind of know what we want to be about
more so than we did last year. And I think
that's really helped these early workouts.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
What's it like having Trevin and Trey come hang out
early offseason and run these guys a little bit?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, but I love those dudes.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I mean I really truly like both those guys will
always you know, be you know, special to me, you know,
in their unique ways.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You know, Trevor was the guy that you know, we
relied on kind.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Of from day one, you know, to be one of
our guys, and and Trade just just wouldn't go away.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
It's at that point to the point where we just
you know, he made it obvious, but we needed to
play him and and and just a credit to who
he is as a guy. I mean, you know, pretty
pretty cool story for him. And so to have those
guys come in and already know what we're about, I
think it's really helped set the standard and the tone,
not just style of play, but just kind of how
(08:07):
we how hard we go every day, and you know
the way that we try to do things.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
It's been Honestly, it's been invaluable.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Coach just speak to the testament that speaking of Trey,
had the opportunity to talk to him after the Big
twelve Tournament game against Iowa State, and and he said,
he went to the scorer's table and we know what
Curtis Jones is doing. In the first half, there was
no secret. And then the second half, Curtis I was like, man,
you again, He's like, hey, it's my job, man. And
you know, I think that's just a funny moment. Outside
(08:35):
of basketball. I know that the game is still human
and life still happens. Just talk about, you know, the
adjustments that game, because I look at that game playing.
You know, you look at basketball. A guy gets hot
and it's really hard to stop him. But then that
second half, you guys cooled him completely off.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Yeah, I mean, that was a pretty remarkable individual performance
that he was putting on in that first half. But
you know, sometimes that can be a hard thing, especially
after you know, a halftime break. So you know, we
felt like we could just kind of weather that storm.
We'd be able to throw enough bodies at them. But
and and and make some adjustments too in terms of
slowing him down. But you know, Trey and and we're
(09:13):
kind of our guys all year that we could throw
on guys like that, and you know, Trey was a
guy in that particular game that was the right sort
of answer for what Jones had going on.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
And in some games you gotta just.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Keep trying different things un till something works. And luckily
that game, you know, it worked in our favor. But
that that game was actually an unbelievable game, I mean,
especially coming off the heels of the game at their Place,
The yeah, overtime game, I mean that was that was
a really competitive game and glad we came.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
Out on top, obviously. So there's always the cliche over
a second half team. It did feel like a lot
of the games this season you were second half teams
and you made adjustments at halftime. Do you outside of
Iowa State, do you have any of those that you're
really proud of that you guys hang your hat on
that you changed going into the second half and came
out on Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I think there was a couple, I mean at and
I've heard Trev made mention of this at Central Florida
that was less of a tactical adjustment, that was more
of a kind of.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
A gut check moment. I think for our group.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Where we came out and just played a lot tougher
not only to win that game, but I think for
the rest of the season. At home against West Virginia,
at home against Kansas State, I mean, we obviously shoot
a lot of threes and and teams sometimes would go
over the top to take away three, and we had
to challenge our guys to get to the rim. And
both those second halfs which we did led by you know,
(10:34):
Richie really set the tone in both those games and
just ducking his head and getting to the rim because
everybody was so worried about the three. And so you know,
I think, you know, that's something you got to do
in games, man. You got to see how teams are
guarding you. Sometimes it takes a half, sometimes it takes
you know, a shorter period of time.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
But I think that just.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Speaks to the IQ of our team and our coaching staff,
and the and the trust that we all kind of
had with one another.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Coach, we know what.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Rob right, and it's cable of you saw it up
close and personal, right when that game against the very emotional,
high tense game.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
You know, VJ.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Edge Come obviously is going to be most likely a
lottery pick in the NBA draft. Now you replace a
bunch of other spots, Tyler Moruss, Canard Davis Junior, Dominique Diamande.
I don't want to miss anybody. What do you like
about those new addition guys? And you know, everything's fluid.
Not trying to put things in the term put watch
(11:27):
the team out, but if we were to speculate in
the media, that's our job.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
We know who probably the fourth starters will be.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
What do you like about those other guys that are
going to be pushing maybe for that potential last part
or time this season.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, I mean I think you nailed that.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I mean, things are definitely fluid, uh in terms of
you know, how things shake out. I think last year
was as good of an example as as anything.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
But you know, we want to go out.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
We want to get more you know, athletic, but not
sacrifice our shooting, you know, So we want to get
you know, some guys that could you know, three and
D guys that can also drible ass and shoot.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And so you know, you look at the guys we.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Brought in, particularly on those kind of wing spots.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
I mean a lot of them feel that.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
You know, Niche uh, you know, Canard's a guy that
you know, he fits that bill, you know pretty pretty
well in terms of being able to guard some of
the other team's best players.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
You know, you watched him play Florida.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
You know, he's guarding Walter Clayton as an example, and
did a good job on him.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
You know, he can make threes, he can handle the ball.
You know, I heard.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Tyler up here talking about, you know, his desire to
guard and make threes as well.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
You know. You know, Dom's a guy that we've had
our eye on for.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Ever since I got the job, and so he's something
we've had a deep standing relationship with and glad to
get him here. H you know, Hadeem and Bob's a
guy that red shirted last year that's had a really
good spring and summer. You know what Brody's been able
to show us here in the early spring and summer
has been really impressive. You know, you mentioned Rob Wright.
Obviously he's uh, you know, I feel like that happens
(12:59):
so early in the process you almost forget that he's
a part of it. But I mean he's as dynamic
as of a guard as there is in the country,
much less the Big twelve.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Great young man, too.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Awesome family excited that he's a part of you know, cougarnation,
but I.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Mean the list goes on and on.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
You know, really, you know, our coaches did a good
job of building relationships with guys throughout the year. Nate
Pickens is another guy who fits that kind of tough
athletic guy that can make threes as well. And so
you know, it was definitely not our intent to go
out and try to get you know, twelve thirteen deep again,
but you know, injuries and so forth. You know, you
(13:39):
want to have depth, right and you know, we'll see
how things shake out when we start to really competing
against one another.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Was it also not also to go and get guys
that you played against as well? You know that's everybody
jokes about that. You know, Oh, they got guys that
they played against. And I said, hey, look, it's college basketball.
You have no idea what's going to happen at the
beginning of the year.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Compared officiating the things you could get away with from
the Big twelve and the things you can get away
with the NBA felt different from a viewer's perspective as
(14:21):
someone who's coached in both. Does it feel like the
Big Twelve is just it's just tough and you can
get away with a lot.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
It's funny, you just got back from the Big Twelve
meetings last week or last week.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Yeah, and you know, this topic got brought up with
the officials.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Ahead of officials, I should say, you know, I think
that you know, they made mention of the physicality, particularly
on the perimeter, you know, with the hand checking and
so forth, that that definitely was a huge.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Difference in current in terms of what I was used to.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Now, I do think watching this year's NBA playoffs, it
feels like we're in a little bit of a change.
A little bit on the pro side, I think they're
letting things be a little bit more physical than they
were even a year ago. But yes, the Big Twelve
is definitely more physical than the NBA, just given how
the officials call the game. So you know, that was
an area I had to adjust to honestly as the
(15:15):
head coach. And you know, I think you know who
we've gone out and added to our group. I think
speaks a little bit more to the physicality that's allowed.
I think you'll see a much more physical BYU team
this year than we saw last year.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
How much time do you have to watch NBA basketball now,
I'm sure you have barely any time just to spend
with your own family. Do you get any time to
just kind of hang out and watch basketball when you're
not actively scouting?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, in the playoffs, I have. I've definitely been able to.
You know, we've kind of made a family affair. My
my kids are into it. My wife is, you know,
she's like a mom. If it's if it's guys we've coached,
like TJ McConnell and mckel bridges, she definitely wants to
have those games on. I mean, I was with TJ
when he was just a kid essentially. Now he's got
kids of his own. And so that's one of the
(16:01):
cool things about sports, man like it transcends basketball. It's
like deep relationships, and that's something I love about being
a part of sports in general. And it is fun
to have a rooting interest, you know, given the deep
relationships that we were lucky to build in the league,
and so that part has been really rewarding for me
as a as a coach.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah, you have to look back at that, and that's
but you mentioned something your family. We had an opportunity
to have one of your assistants on last weekend Talk,
but then the week prior we had his wife, Lisa
burg Is on talk about her book while she run
it for the kid. As much as I love basketball,
as much as you love coaching, we love doing this.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
We all go home.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
I remind everybody of that. After remind fans, we all
go home to something. We all go home to our families.
What just as your family, your wife, that meant to
you because basketball is important, but when you go home,
that's a safe place.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Yeah, man, it's I mean for me, it's everything.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
You know, it's my it's my rock, it's my foundation,
It's it's really all I care about, to be honest
with you, And so you know, not to say that
other things aren't aren't important, but you know, that's just
the number one thing on my mind. And so it's
just it's been fun to just kind of see our
family grow, you know, as we've navigated this career of coaching,
(17:14):
and it affords us a lot of unique opportunities that
we probably otherwise wouldn't have. And I think my kids
are now getting to the age where they kind of
realize that. So I do get I do get pepper
pretty hard with questions.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
When I get homes. My kids are getting old about
why we didn't play this guy or why we call that.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Or whatever else, And uh, yeah, that's that's a byproduct
for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
It from the backparts minding kids.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
But you know, uh it's cool though, because then my
daughter could care less. You know, she just wants me
to read her a book and tuck her in and
stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
So it's great, man.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
And that's one of the great things about being in
this community because family is so embraced out here, and
you know, it's what makes this place pretty special.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
You guys, have any fun summer vacations, You have any
time to do anything like that this year, get some
family time in.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Yeah, we have a couple of things on the dock,
and I mean we actually I just got back in
town this morning. Actually, we always go out and spend
some time at my my in law's farm in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kids love going out there, hanging out and watching my
father in law blow stuff. Up and trying to hurt
himself and that's always a highlight of the summer. So
we got that early, early off the bucket list this year,
(18:21):
and you know, we'll get out and do a couple
of other things as well.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
How much is faith played a role into you know,
the job and everything, NBA. We know, no days off
in college, same degree to a portion, but by is
very unique, right and you know, being a member of
the church, you have Sundays to be with family and
have that mental reset.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, I mean it's it's honestly been one of the
coolest things about this job is is not feeling that
that pressure to you know, uh, have to work on
Sunday and now there are times when we're traveling and
stuff like that, but you know, it allows me to, uh,
you know, have more of a balance of church and
and and and work, and you know.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Be more involved in our you know, our church community.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Which I've enjoyed, and just being able to spend that
time with our family on Sundays as well.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So that's been a huge part of it.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Man, It's been a real blessing in our life to
be able to you know, hit that reset button. Uh,
you know, every Sunday and kind of and regroup for
the week ahead.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
What's it like seeing someone who's essentially a son of
yours and Yegor Demon what's it like seeing him grow
from moving here from another country, having an incredible Big
twelve season or having an incredible season.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
And now getting ready to go to where you used
to work.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Yeah, it's really cool. I mean, it's cool for me
to have those two worlds merge me. I just got
off the phone with the uh current NBA head coach
who I was colleagues with in the NBA, who was
asking me about Yegor whose team as a pick in
his range.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
So for me on a.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Personal level, UH, it's been cool to kind of just
keep the two worlds kind of tied together and allow
me to, you know, keep keep a lot of those
relationships going that I have in the n B A Uh.
In terms of Jegor Man, just really happy and proud
of him and for him.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
You know, was able to go out to.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Chicago and watch him in the combine, was there at
his pro day, and we're able to spend some time
together at dinner after that. Uh, he's really enjoying the
moment as he should. He's got a confidence about him
right now.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
That that's that's been fun to see.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
And uh, I'm really excited about, you know, draft night
to see where he'll go.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
And told him out.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Ingor demon Jersey in my office with whatever team drafts him,
and he yuh.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
So, uh, that's a cool thing, not just for me
and and.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
For uh you know, our our his teammates, but all
all of b YU. You know, to have a guy
like that who's gonna be able to kind of carry
the torch of b YU as he moves on to
the pro ranks.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I think it'll be fun, you know, to see that.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
And I see a few other guys down there who
this time next year will be we'll probably be saying
the same thing about in the NBA draft as well,
which will be equally as exciting watching young men.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Develop spiritually, physically, athletically. Is that what drew you to
the college game as opposed to being in the pros?
Speaker 3 (21:14):
I mean, it's it's something that honestly, I don't know
if I even put enough stock into prior to taking
the job, but now that I'm doing it more, it
is it is very rewarding, you know, and I do
think there's a bit of a misnomber though about at
least the pros.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I was able to coach.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
You know, you're still involved in like TJ as I
mentioned TJ McConnell, even Joe l embiid you know who
texts me we beat Kansas. He's one of the first
guys that reached out. I mean I was you're still
with those guys, especially back then at young ages.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
You know, where guys were coming out earlier.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
And so forth, but you just don't have as much
I think, hands on as you do in college.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
And so it's been fun to.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
You know, have the guys over to my house the
other day to watch some of these playoff games and
you're able to do things like that when you can
kind of get to get to know these guys a
little bit more on a personal level. And and now
you know, you know, take guy like Trevin for example.
You know we've had some conversations he kind of navigating
the okay, I'm out of college now now what type stuff.
And you know the fact that they would care enough about,
(22:19):
you know, my opinion to reach out, you know that
means a lot to me.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
And you know, like I said.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
About Tred mean, that's a guy I'll have on a
pedestal forever because the way that he you know, handled
you know, his his.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Personal situation here at BYU.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
So it's definitely something that I'm definitely, definitely fond of,
and to be honest, it's just something that I've grown
probably a greater appreciation of now that I've got year
one under my belt.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
B yu Man's basketball head coach Kevin Young here with us.
I have to ask that now that you mentioned the NBA,
you're a fan of the game Oklahoma City Indiana Pacers.
I like the Tyree Haliburton, you know, overrated chirping back
at people, let him know he's here. But I also like,
you know, Shake Gilges Alexander developing after that trade that
Paul George trade into who he is right now as well.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I think it's uh.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
I think we're in store for a pretty entertaining you
know uh finals. I think both teams play a fun
style of play. I think it's hard to root against
the all time best defense in the history of the NBA,
which is what Okay C is currently doing. So I
do think that they'll pull it out, but I think
it'll be a really interesting series, fun to follow. I've
(23:28):
got friends on both coaching staffs, and I know how
hard that that finals grind is man like.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
There's nothing like it. Truly, there's nothing like it.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
And uh, you know, wish both teams, you know, health
as they get into it. But it'll be fun to follow.
But I do, I do. Uh if I had a
crystal ball, I'm.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Going okay, see if I had to take the crystal ball.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
It's hard to pick.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
His defense wins championships and we saw what the Oklahoma
State game change the landscape for you guys down the stretch.
It really is impactful. Coach, it's im mediate's job to
you know, paint the picture and obviously do it the
right way. But you've heard it probably final four run
pos and it's all because centered around you know, the team.
But aj debonsa, there's no secret to it. What has
(24:13):
he looked like since he's been in practice? He had
mentioned before he goes off to do some things, and
why is this team poised for that type of run
this season?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yeah? I mean to the to age.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
I mean, the thing I love about him and I
don't know if people understand is about his game is
He's a very highly intelligent player that really knows how
to play.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Been really impressed with you know, his passing.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You know, I think a locket's made of how athletic
he is and and this, that and the other. But
he's just a really good basketball player that you know,
he can play with the ball in his hands. He
can play with the ball, you can play off the
ball as well. I think he could be an All
League defensive player as well. And so he really does
have you know a lot of things that are winning
qualities that will definitely try to highlight and pull out,
(25:01):
you know, as it relates to the you know, the
final four, this.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
That and the other.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
I mean, like I said before, man, every every year
is a different animal. Just because we had a run
this this season does not you know, mean anything going
into this coming year.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
So we got a lot of work cutout for us. Man,
we got a lot of new guys.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I do love the fact that you know, Caba and
Ritchie and Dawson and the high low uh, you know,
guys that played you know, significant minutes for us on
last year's team are back. I think that's really important.
Especially I think that kind of can get lost in
today's age of transfer, portal and this and that, but
more anthem.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I just like the group that we have.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Obviously, you know AJ is gonna get a lot of
the headlines, but I think we got We tried really
hard to put together an actual team, you know, not
just go out and try to just get names and
so forth. We try to put together a group of
guys that can fit next to AJ, can fit next
to Richie, can fit next to Kaba, where Dawson can
come in and do his thing, and so forth, and
(25:58):
so I think that's really important, especially like I said
in today's landscape and where we end up at the
end of the season.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Based on all that, I think that's the beauty of sport.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You know, you're gonna play the games as they say,
so based on what I'm seeing here at this I
think we'll have a lot of people watching.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You will have a lot of people watching.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
I told Tyson I would ask this because I wanted
me to take the blame and not him.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I told him I would do it and say, coach
can be mad a ron for bringing it up.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
I just got the email about the golf tournament, right,
That's that's what they do. I told Tyson I would ask,
and now I will let coach shut me down personally.
But I've given my pitches. The media member, would you
love to see just forty fifty six year old men
uncoordinated at basketball church ball play a media game and
just watch us in varius ourselves there?
Speaker 2 (26:49):
They're any way of entertaining that. See see see I said.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
The response I expect, I said, if it came from me,
it'd be better not from him, but intriguing.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
I always saw the jazz to do that exactly. Yeah,
So so I may have to.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
I may have to holler at some of our of
our counterparts up north and see how it went over.
Make sure there was no blown a c ls, heels
or hammies. There's a lot of things you gotta worry
about when you start talking.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Well his thing.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
I won the m v P the last time, and
I was like, this is stuff, this is what is spot?
No No no, no, no no, no, here's the zero. I
played rugby and that was at my years rump. But
no no, I've had people texting me, hey, it's only
room for one r W three. Rob Right would smoke me.
It's not I'm not doing that. If I could score
(27:35):
one basket, maybe I could have the trade clause. No, no, no,
but it's just it's a fun opportunity to get it together.
But uh, I like to beat up on, you know,
forty fifty year old men that can't run, you know,
because I'm I'm a young guy, so I like to
mess with them.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
But no, it's it's something I said I would break
up to see a coach. Who you Who you going
at the most? That's the question. Oh man, let's see
I'm going at the most.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Well, there is a guy that works the Desert News.
I won't say his name because I gonna sit on there.
I'll tell you off record, but he tried to block
my shot and the posted a picture about what happened
if it got blocked, and I was like, you know,
I scored that basket. He tried to push the bast
and I won't say any names. And then there's another
media member. I'm not gonna say his name, but there
was a guy behind me and I was coaching against Trevor.
(28:17):
You can ask him. Spencer Johnson was our coach. Channel
one guy back just like I thought he played rugby,
because you know, it's pick up you're not trying to
have a blown aco.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
And I thought he played rugby.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
I thought he'd be better than this, and that made
me mad, and that got me upset because I was
trying to be chill and I looked at some of
the old coaches. Davis says, no, I'm angry, and then
I say, you know what, forget this three and D stuff.
I just drove like six times in a row, and
like Tyson, there's a picture of him like fouled me
out of midair. My stomach is led up, my guts
hanging out. It's bad now, It's just it was a
(28:47):
fun time to like play with everybody.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Kenny Cox.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
It's just a fun time to interact with the guys,
and it's good. It gave opportunity to see what it's
like because practice to try to dribble like go this
is difficult. So it makes you think the next time
you want to write something in your article, you know,
think twice of how difficult it.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Is to practice on that level.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I mean that I may have to put y'all up
on press row like this and then have our guys
ask y'all questions that they did.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
They asked questions how does it feel, you know? And
I said, and there were guys joking like Mitch Harper Cassel, Yeah,
I might have to go into the portal. It might
be I might have to get Trevin Dale let me
down like it was. It was just a funny because
again I talk about the funny. It lets you know,
like basketball is not everything, and it shows their job
is harder than what it is. I think people really think, oh,
it's easy to shoot a three. Actually it's not. Though
(29:35):
it's more tough than you.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Think is, especially when you got to run back on defense.
So there was no defense in the game.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Coach, it was all fast breaks, asked jam Jordan, he played,
it was all fast breaks.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
So when I was at b y U, I don't
know if he still does this, but Lee Kamard was
on an intermural team. I don't know how that's legal
because he would come out and yeah, twenty year olds,
but I guess because he's an employee of the university.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
It's a low. Do you get to play ball at all?
Do you ever get to just go shoot or.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Behind the scenes coaching scouting, do you ever get to
just put up baskets?
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Uh? When I was when I was coaching the NBA.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
I actually would we'd play a lot, a lot with
the staffs and so forth. Uh, it's getting harder. I
had a back injury. Actually that kind of put me
down for a while. But I will say that we
had the father and sons camp. Uh them, I didn't
you know.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
I was like kind of like you, I'm just gonna
go into it. I'm just gonna be kind of chill.
And then there was there was.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
A few people that were going hard. So your boy
had it hit a couple.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
It's said, I took that personally over he's looking at
the video eleven.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Okay, I got you check this out, oh man coaching everything.
We just got to give you a gain Mini. Congrats
to you, Freshet. You don't need it, but phenomenal work.
Year two is gonna be great. You got a great staff,
great players. It's been great to interview today. We probably
took way too much of your time than Nita. We
will definitely let you get back to being with the fans,
but thanks for your time today.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Noah, I appreciate you guys, appreciate all the all you
guys do to cover you know, not just BUYU basketball.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
But all the sports as well.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
I'm excited for, you know, some of the sports that
are coming up in season. I'm a big fan of
all the athletic programs, so appreciate you guys having me on.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
He's been called in four k at at the football
games and other athletics as well. You can see him
him and Adrian Wolskonoski. You might catch him again at
another BAU football game. Guys, that has been great catching
up with coach Kevin. You'll we'll go to break, take
a long break. We'll be back.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
We're live from Redmond Heritage Farm Store here in orm
At four twenty West eight hundred north in orm Utah.
You gotta try the raw milk eye down some more
of it. I stopped because I didn't want to throw
up from doing the gallon challenge, and I got a
text message actually from my wife saying slow down and
stop doing that.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
We'll go to break.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Don't go anywhere more Cougar Sports on a flip right
here on one on three point nine and ninety eight
point three ESPN.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
The Fan
Just like the Cougar football team, Ben Krittle was built,
not born, and since two thousand and nineties built himself
into the go to source on the radio and online
for all things Cougars. This is Cougars Sports with Ben
Krittle on one O three nine at ninety eight three ESPN.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
The fans thousands, why and I know, hey, you got
to they get on your own book. We don't have
to grow up. We can take forever. Devin Norms so
far trick government Kola underneath O isisen suns. I could
give a thousands?
Speaker 3 (00:40):
Why good? Hey go oh, I have to go? Is that?
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Welcome back to Cougar Sports.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
Here one O three point nine and ninety eight point
three ESB and the fan Ronald three men, we were here,
Red Hammer, my calls about my sigh, hold it down.
While Ben Crittle is in Hawaii on vacation on the
Lovely Beatures. I don't know where he's at, but he's
enjoying himself. We are alive here remote from the Red
Men's Heritage Farm Store in orm Utah, located at four
twenty West eight hundred north farm to you celebrate Redmond
(01:10):
Day with us. It's a great event, right now you
got members of the BYU men's basketball team, Richie Headband,
the Tasmanian Devil, Saunders till I left right.
Speaker 2 (01:18):
Now as he speak.
Speaker 4 (01:19):
We just got off the line with Tyler Moruss, one
of the new additions. It's so many new faces for
this team. Great great players. Robert right, the third is
another one. Canard Davis Junior. I don't want to miss
anybody but Dominic Diamande. I you look at the tape
of all of these guys and how they're gonna fit in.
All you can do is get excited after what happened
this last season. The head coach to our right, he
(01:42):
needs no introduction at all. Everyone knows who he is.
We got the BYU men's basketball coach, Kevin Young with
this coach, thanks for joining us today of course.
Speaker 3 (01:51):
Man. Now this is a great event, beautiful day, big
turnout too.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
Man, this is great.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Yeah, because you see a lot of these like radio
events with people like show up and you are like
a dealership or whatever.
Speaker 2 (02:02):
I've never seen an event this week. This is incredible.
Speaker 4 (02:05):
We do it right here at ESB and the fan
as we were for a lot from ultimate ticket. We
don't just like to bring the radio. We want to
bring the trailer, the whole atmosphere, everything. We want to
do it right for the fans and for the players.
Uh because at the end of the day, you know, Cougarnation,
it's it's the best fan base, I think in the country. Coach,
you describe just your first season being here. We know
(02:27):
that the X and x's and o's they matter a lot,
but there's a lot more that it goes on to
b YU than just basketball.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (02:35):
Absolutely, I mean, obviously, the family atmosphere is one that's uh,
you know, I personally love you know, I got, you know,
my family out of everything. My boys over at b
YU basketball camp right now as we speak. But yeah, man,
it is more than basketball, you know. It's uh, you know,
our guys are well rounded. You know, you guys have
been around them, and uh, you know, we try to
(02:56):
recruit to that. We try to get guys that want
to come in and uh, you know, be a part
of everything.
Speaker 2 (03:00):
That BYU has to offer.
Speaker 3 (03:01):
And you know, you got a lot of people in
the community that take care of them, you know, like
our guys here at Revmens.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
So you know, it's a great place to be. So
you've been here for a year now.
Speaker 5 (03:12):
You started the job a year ago, and when anyone
starts the first job, you pick up lots of things
that you're like, I don't know how that's gonna work.
Speaker 2 (03:19):
I'm not used to this yet.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Was there anything for you that you started, whether it
was recruiting or anything else that you were like, Okay,
this is gonna be an adjustment to figure out.
Speaker 2 (03:28):
And then now you.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Look back and you're like, Okay, I kind of had
that that wasn't as tough as I thought it.
Speaker 2 (03:33):
Was gonna be.
Speaker 3 (03:34):
Oh man, Yeah, there's a lot. Honestly, I'd say almost
every part of the job. But if I had to
narrow it down to a couple, I do think recruiting,
you know a lot. A large part of that is
my staff. You know, they do a good job of
just keeping me dial then and making sure I'm looking
at the right things and spending my time the right way.
Speaker 2 (03:54):
And that's been an adjustment.
Speaker 3 (03:55):
But I think the more we've gone through it, you know,
it's gotten a little bit.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
More comfortable for me.
Speaker 3 (04:01):
You're definitely out of the my normal stuff that I
was doing in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
But again, credit to my staff of keeping me organized there.
Speaker 4 (04:09):
We know you came from the NBA, but there has
to be some type of similarities in some type of way.
How has that experience helped you thrive into college setting.
Speaker 3 (04:17):
Yeah, I think where it shows it's head The most,
I think is just the game planning.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
You know, in the NBA, you're doing it.
Speaker 3 (04:23):
You know, if you're on a good team, you're you're
up too close to one hundred a year or thereabouts,
and so you know, you get into the college space
and you know, you feel like you need to take
a lot of the things that you got so much
practicing in the NBA as far as putting game plans together,
whether that's how you're going to attack a defense or
whether it's how.
Speaker 2 (04:41):
You're gonna try to slow you know, a star player down,
or what have you.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
But I think that's that's probably where I've leaned on
my NBA experience the most.
Speaker 5 (04:52):
There's a lot of talk about a lot of the
accolades that came from last year, but one of my
personal favorites is how Richie Saunders went from a guy
who b y U fans would say, we love him,
he's awesome, to now the rest of the country being
able to say, oh my gosh, that kid over in Provo,
he's awesome. You may say the answer was we just
stayed out of his way. But what things do you
(05:14):
felt feel like changed or what things do you feel
like you helped Richie with in order for him to
become the sensation and for the rest of the world
to learn who he was.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
I think, you know, the way that we play is
pretty open and free, and we encourage guys to be
really aggressive, and we do it in a in a
spaced environment, and I think the combination of all those things.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
Really helped, you know, Richie.
Speaker 3 (05:40):
But at the end of the day, I mean, he's
such an unbelievable worker, and he put himself in a
position to go out there and take advantage of the
opportunities that were given to him, and by doing that,
he earned a lot of trust, you know, from me
and from the rest of our staff and from his
teammates where they were you know, oldtimate looking looking for him.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
You know, especially in big moments.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
I think that's probably an area where he probably grew
more than anything is. You know, He's a guy that
delivered in a lot of key moments for us throughout
the course of the season and a lot of close games.
Speaker 2 (06:08):
How is the off season being coached?
Speaker 4 (06:11):
There was a video that posted on social media shout
out to the social media teams that said, Hey, we're
gonna do a few things.
Speaker 2 (06:17):
It's your voice, but then I want you guys to play.
Speaker 4 (06:19):
Has chemistry been the biggest you know off season building
that continuity back from last season.
Speaker 3 (06:24):
Yeah, and I think it's just going to continue to
be a point of emphasis. You know, We've had guys
coming in at different different phases. You know, this summer,
you know, AJ's going out to some USA stuff.
Speaker 2 (06:36):
We want to get him in here and.
Speaker 3 (06:38):
Get him some some work under his belt, you know,
within our style, within our structure, and so honestly, I'm
still learning how to operate in the college offseason space
is a lot different than the NBA world. But we
definitely wanted to get the guys in the gym together.
I think, not just so they can get to know
each other, but you know, just start building out the
(06:58):
identity that we want our team to play.
Speaker 2 (07:00):
Like. Every year is different.
Speaker 3 (07:02):
You know, last year, our group, you know, once it
finally clicked, it really started to come together, and that
every year it happens at a different pace, and so
we're trying to get a little bit of a jump start.
I think our staff has a bit more continuity, you know,
we kind of know what we want to be about
more so than we did last year. And I think
that's really helped these early workouts.
Speaker 5 (07:22):
What's it like having Trevin and Trey come hang out
early offseason and run these guys a little bit?
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yeah, but I love those dudes.
Speaker 3 (07:28):
I mean I really truly like both those guys will
always you know, be you know, special to me, you know,
in their unique ways.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
You know, Trevor was the guy that you know, we
relied on kind.
Speaker 3 (07:40):
Of from day one, you know, to be one of
our guys, and and Trade just just wouldn't go away.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
Man.
Speaker 3 (07:46):
It's at that point to the point where we just
you know, he made it obvious, but we needed to
play him and and and just a credit to who
he is as a guy. I mean, you know, pretty
pretty cool story for him. And so to have those
guys come in and already know what we're about, I
think it's really helped set the standard and the tone,
not just style of play, but just kind of how
(08:07):
we how hard we go every day, and you know
the way that we try to do things.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
It's been Honestly, it's been invaluable.
Speaker 4 (08:14):
Coach just speak to the testament that speaking of Trey,
had the opportunity to talk to him after the Big
twelve Tournament game against Iowa State, and and he said,
he went to the scorer's table and we know what
Curtis Jones is doing. In the first half, there was
no secret. And then the second half, Curtis I was like, man,
you again, He's like, hey, it's my job, man. And
you know, I think that's just a funny moment. Outside
(08:35):
of basketball. I know that the game is still human
and life still happens. Just talk about, you know, the
adjustments that game, because I look at that game playing.
You know, you look at basketball. A guy gets hot
and it's really hard to stop him. But then that
second half, you guys cooled him completely off.
Speaker 3 (08:51):
Yeah, I mean, that was a pretty remarkable individual performance
that he was putting on in that first half. But
you know, sometimes that can be a hard thing, especially
after you know, a halftime break. So you know, we
felt like we could just kind of weather that storm.
We'd be able to throw enough bodies at them. But
and and and make some adjustments too in terms of
slowing him down. But you know, Trey and and we're
(09:13):
kind of our guys all year that we could throw
on guys like that, and you know, Trey was a
guy in that particular game that was the right sort
of answer for what Jones had going on.
Speaker 2 (09:24):
And in some games you gotta just.
Speaker 3 (09:28):
Keep trying different things un till something works. And luckily
that game, you know, it worked in our favor. But
that that game was actually an unbelievable game, I mean,
especially coming off the heels of the game at their Place,
The yeah, overtime game, I mean that was that was
a really competitive game and glad we came.
Speaker 5 (09:43):
Out on top, obviously. So there's always the cliche over
a second half team. It did feel like a lot
of the games this season you were second half teams
and you made adjustments at halftime. Do you outside of
Iowa State, do you have any of those that you're
really proud of that you guys hang your hat on
that you changed going into the second half and came
out on Yeah.
Speaker 3 (10:00):
I think there was a couple, I mean at and
I've heard Trev made mention of this at Central Florida
that was less of a tactical adjustment, that was more
of a kind of.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
A gut check moment. I think for our group.
Speaker 3 (10:12):
Where we came out and just played a lot tougher
not only to win that game, but I think for
the rest of the season. At home against West Virginia,
at home against Kansas State, I mean, we obviously shoot
a lot of threes and and teams sometimes would go
over the top to take away three, and we had
to challenge our guys to get to the rim. And
both those second halfs which we did led by you know,
(10:34):
Richie really set the tone in both those games and
just ducking his head and getting to the rim because
everybody was so worried about the three. And so you know,
I think, you know, that's something you got to do
in games, man. You got to see how teams are
guarding you. Sometimes it takes a half, sometimes it takes
you know, a shorter period of time.
Speaker 2 (10:50):
But I think that just.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Speaks to the IQ of our team and our coaching staff,
and the and the trust that we all kind of
had with one another.
Speaker 2 (10:58):
Coach, we know what.
Speaker 4 (10:59):
Rob right, and it's cable of you saw it up
close and personal, right when that game against the very emotional,
high tense game.
Speaker 2 (11:06):
You know, VJ.
Speaker 4 (11:07):
Edge Come obviously is going to be most likely a
lottery pick in the NBA draft. Now you replace a
bunch of other spots, Tyler Moruss, Canard Davis Junior, Dominique Diamande.
I don't want to miss anybody. What do you like
about those new addition guys? And you know, everything's fluid.
Not trying to put things in the term put watch
(11:27):
the team out, but if we were to speculate in
the media, that's our job.
Speaker 2 (11:30):
We know who probably the fourth starters will be.
Speaker 4 (11:32):
What do you like about those other guys that are
going to be pushing maybe for that potential last part
or time this season.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, I mean I think you nailed that.
Speaker 3 (11:39):
I mean, things are definitely fluid, uh in terms of
you know, how things shake out. I think last year
was as good of an example as as anything.
Speaker 2 (11:47):
But you know, we want to go out.
Speaker 3 (11:49):
We want to get more you know, athletic, but not
sacrifice our shooting, you know, So we want to get
you know, some guys that could you know, three and
D guys that can also drible ass and shoot.
Speaker 2 (12:00):
And so you know, you look at the guys we.
Speaker 3 (12:02):
Brought in, particularly on those kind of wing spots.
Speaker 2 (12:06):
I mean a lot of them feel that.
Speaker 3 (12:07):
You know, Niche uh, you know, Canard's a guy that
you know, he fits that bill, you know pretty pretty
well in terms of being able to guard some of
the other team's best players.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
You know, you watched him play Florida.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
You know, he's guarding Walter Clayton as an example, and
did a good job on him.
Speaker 2 (12:23):
You know, he can make threes, he can handle the ball.
You know, I heard.
Speaker 3 (12:26):
Tyler up here talking about, you know, his desire to
guard and make threes as well.
Speaker 2 (12:31):
You know. You know, Dom's a guy that we've had
our eye on for.
Speaker 3 (12:35):
Ever since I got the job, and so he's something
we've had a deep standing relationship with and glad to
get him here. H you know, Hadeem and Bob's a
guy that red shirted last year that's had a really
good spring and summer. You know what Brody's been able
to show us here in the early spring and summer
has been really impressive. You know, you mentioned Rob Wright.
Obviously he's uh, you know, I feel like that happens
(12:59):
so early in the process you almost forget that he's
a part of it. But I mean he's as dynamic
as of a guard as there is in the country,
much less the Big twelve.
Speaker 2 (13:09):
Great young man, too.
Speaker 3 (13:10):
Awesome family excited that he's a part of you know, cougarnation,
but I.
Speaker 2 (13:15):
Mean the list goes on and on.
Speaker 3 (13:16):
You know, really, you know, our coaches did a good
job of building relationships with guys throughout the year. Nate
Pickens is another guy who fits that kind of tough
athletic guy that can make threes as well. And so
you know, it was definitely not our intent to go
out and try to get you know, twelve thirteen deep again,
but you know, injuries and so forth. You know, you
(13:39):
want to have depth, right and you know, we'll see
how things shake out when we start to really competing
against one another.
Speaker 4 (13:45):
Was it also not also to go and get guys
that you played against as well? You know that's everybody
jokes about that. You know, Oh, they got guys that
they played against. And I said, hey, look, it's college basketball.
You have no idea what's going to happen at the
beginning of the year.
Speaker 5 (13:58):
Compared officiating the things you could get away with from
the Big twelve and the things you can get away
with the NBA felt different from a viewer's perspective as
(14:21):
someone who's coached in both. Does it feel like the
Big Twelve is just it's just tough and you can
get away with a lot.
Speaker 3 (14:27):
It's funny, you just got back from the Big Twelve
meetings last week or last week.
Speaker 2 (14:32):
Yeah, and you know, this topic got brought up with
the officials.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Ahead of officials, I should say, you know, I think
that you know, they made mention of the physicality, particularly
on the perimeter, you know, with the hand checking and
so forth, that that definitely was a huge.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
Difference in current in terms of what I was used to.
Speaker 3 (14:54):
Now, I do think watching this year's NBA playoffs, it
feels like we're in a little bit of a change.
A little bit on the pro side, I think they're
letting things be a little bit more physical than they
were even a year ago. But yes, the Big Twelve
is definitely more physical than the NBA, just given how
the officials call the game. So you know, that was
an area I had to adjust to honestly as the
(15:15):
head coach. And you know, I think you know who
we've gone out and added to our group. I think
speaks a little bit more to the physicality that's allowed.
I think you'll see a much more physical BYU team
this year than we saw last year.
Speaker 5 (15:28):
How much time do you have to watch NBA basketball now,
I'm sure you have barely any time just to spend
with your own family. Do you get any time to
just kind of hang out and watch basketball when you're
not actively scouting?
Speaker 3 (15:40):
Yeah, in the playoffs, I have. I've definitely been able to.
You know, we've kind of made a family affair. My
my kids are into it. My wife is, you know,
she's like a mom. If it's if it's guys we've coached,
like TJ McConnell and mckel bridges, she definitely wants to
have those games on. I mean, I was with TJ
when he was just a kid essentially. Now he's got
kids of his own. And so that's one of the
(16:01):
cool things about sports, man like it transcends basketball. It's
like deep relationships, and that's something I love about being
a part of sports in general. And it is fun
to have a rooting interest, you know, given the deep
relationships that we were lucky to build in the league,
and so that part has been really rewarding for me
as a as a coach.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
Yeah, you have to look back at that, and that's
but you mentioned something your family. We had an opportunity
to have one of your assistants on last weekend Talk,
but then the week prior we had his wife, Lisa
burg Is on talk about her book while she run
it for the kid. As much as I love basketball,
as much as you love coaching, we love doing this.
Speaker 2 (16:37):
We all go home.
Speaker 4 (16:39):
I remind everybody of that. After remind fans, we all
go home to something. We all go home to our families.
What just as your family, your wife, that meant to
you because basketball is important, but when you go home,
that's a safe place.
Speaker 2 (16:52):
Yeah, man, it's I mean for me, it's everything.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
You know, it's my it's my rock, it's my foundation,
It's it's really all I care about, to be honest
with you, And so you know, not to say that
other things aren't aren't important, but you know, that's just
the number one thing on my mind. And so it's
just it's been fun to just kind of see our
family grow, you know, as we've navigated this career of coaching,
(17:14):
and it affords us a lot of unique opportunities that
we probably otherwise wouldn't have. And I think my kids
are now getting to the age where they kind of
realize that. So I do get I do get pepper
pretty hard with questions.
Speaker 2 (17:26):
When I get homes. My kids are getting old about
why we didn't play this guy or why we call that.
Speaker 3 (17:32):
Or whatever else, And uh, yeah, that's that's a byproduct
for sure.
Speaker 2 (17:37):
It from the backparts minding kids.
Speaker 3 (17:38):
But you know, uh it's cool though, because then my
daughter could care less. You know, she just wants me
to read her a book and tuck her in and
stuff like that.
Speaker 2 (17:45):
So it's great, man.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
And that's one of the great things about being in
this community because family is so embraced out here, and
you know, it's what makes this place pretty special.
Speaker 5 (17:54):
You guys, have any fun summer vacations, You have any
time to do anything like that this year, get some
family time in.
Speaker 3 (17:59):
Yeah, we have a couple of things on the dock,
and I mean we actually I just got back in
town this morning. Actually, we always go out and spend
some time at my my in law's farm in Omaha, Nebraska.
Kids love going out there, hanging out and watching my
father in law blow stuff. Up and trying to hurt
himself and that's always a highlight of the summer. So
we got that early, early off the bucket list this year,
(18:21):
and you know, we'll get out and do a couple
of other things as well.
Speaker 4 (18:26):
How much is faith played a role into you know,
the job and everything, NBA. We know, no days off
in college, same degree to a portion, but by is
very unique, right and you know, being a member of
the church, you have Sundays to be with family and
have that mental reset.
Speaker 3 (18:41):
Yeah, I mean it's it's honestly been one of the
coolest things about this job is is not feeling that
that pressure to you know, uh, have to work on
Sunday and now there are times when we're traveling and
stuff like that, but you know, it allows me to, uh,
you know, have more of a balance of church and
and and and work, and you know.
Speaker 2 (19:01):
Be more involved in our you know, our church community.
Speaker 3 (19:05):
Which I've enjoyed, and just being able to spend that
time with our family on Sundays as well.
Speaker 2 (19:11):
So that's been a huge part of it.
Speaker 3 (19:12):
Man, It's been a real blessing in our life to
be able to you know, hit that reset button. Uh,
you know, every Sunday and kind of and regroup for
the week ahead.
Speaker 5 (19:22):
What's it like seeing someone who's essentially a son of
yours and Yegor Demon what's it like seeing him grow
from moving here from another country, having an incredible Big
twelve season or having an incredible season.
Speaker 2 (19:33):
And now getting ready to go to where you used
to work.
Speaker 3 (19:37):
Yeah, it's really cool. I mean, it's cool for me
to have those two worlds merge me. I just got
off the phone with the uh current NBA head coach
who I was colleagues with in the NBA, who was
asking me about Yegor whose team as a pick in
his range.
Speaker 2 (19:51):
So for me on a.
Speaker 3 (19:51):
Personal level, UH, it's been cool to kind of just
keep the two worlds kind of tied together and allow
me to, you know, keep keep a lot of those
relationships going that I have in the n B A Uh.
In terms of Jegor Man, just really happy and proud
of him and for him.
Speaker 2 (20:09):
You know, was able to go out to.
Speaker 3 (20:10):
Chicago and watch him in the combine, was there at
his pro day, and we're able to spend some time
together at dinner after that. Uh, he's really enjoying the
moment as he should. He's got a confidence about him
right now.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
That that's that's been fun to see.
Speaker 3 (20:24):
And uh, I'm really excited about, you know, draft night
to see where he'll go.
Speaker 2 (20:28):
And told him out.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Ingor demon Jersey in my office with whatever team drafts him,
and he yuh.
Speaker 2 (20:40):
So, uh, that's a cool thing, not just for me
and and.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
For uh you know, our our his teammates, but all
all of b YU. You know, to have a guy
like that who's gonna be able to kind of carry
the torch of b YU as he moves on to
the pro ranks.
Speaker 2 (20:54):
I think it'll be fun, you know, to see that.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
And I see a few other guys down there who
this time next year will be we'll probably be saying
the same thing about in the NBA draft as well,
which will be equally as exciting watching young men.
Speaker 5 (21:06):
Develop spiritually, physically, athletically. Is that what drew you to
the college game as opposed to being in the pros?
Speaker 3 (21:14):
I mean, it's it's something that honestly, I don't know
if I even put enough stock into prior to taking
the job, but now that I'm doing it more, it
is it is very rewarding, you know, and I do
think there's a bit of a misnomber though about at
least the pros.
Speaker 2 (21:29):
I was able to coach.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
You know, you're still involved in like TJ as I
mentioned TJ McConnell, even Joe l embiid you know who
texts me we beat Kansas. He's one of the first
guys that reached out. I mean I was you're still
with those guys, especially back then at young ages.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
You know, where guys were coming out earlier.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
And so forth, but you just don't have as much
I think, hands on as you do in college.
Speaker 2 (21:54):
And so it's been fun to.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
You know, have the guys over to my house the
other day to watch some of these playoff games and
you're able to do things like that when you can
kind of get to get to know these guys a
little bit more on a personal level. And and now
you know, you know, take guy like Trevin for example.
You know we've had some conversations he kind of navigating
the okay, I'm out of college now now what type stuff.
And you know the fact that they would care enough about,
(22:19):
you know, my opinion to reach out, you know that
means a lot to me.
Speaker 2 (22:22):
And you know, like I said.
Speaker 3 (22:24):
About Tred mean, that's a guy I'll have on a
pedestal forever because the way that he you know, handled
you know, his his.
Speaker 2 (22:30):
Personal situation here at BYU.
Speaker 3 (22:32):
So it's definitely something that I'm definitely, definitely fond of,
and to be honest, it's just something that I've grown
probably a greater appreciation of now that I've got year
one under my belt.
Speaker 4 (22:42):
B yu Man's basketball head coach Kevin Young here with us.
I have to ask that now that you mentioned the NBA,
you're a fan of the game Oklahoma City Indiana Pacers.
I like the Tyree Haliburton, you know, overrated chirping back
at people, let him know he's here. But I also like,
you know, Shake Gilges Alexander developing after that trade that
Paul George trade into who he is right now as well.
Speaker 2 (23:03):
Yeah, I think it's uh.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
I think we're in store for a pretty entertaining you
know uh finals. I think both teams play a fun
style of play. I think it's hard to root against
the all time best defense in the history of the NBA,
which is what Okay C is currently doing. So I
do think that they'll pull it out, but I think
it'll be a really interesting series, fun to follow. I've
(23:28):
got friends on both coaching staffs, and I know how
hard that that finals grind is man like.
Speaker 2 (23:35):
There's nothing like it. Truly, there's nothing like it.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
And uh, you know, wish both teams, you know, health
as they get into it. But it'll be fun to follow.
But I do, I do. Uh if I had a
crystal ball, I'm.
Speaker 4 (23:47):
Going okay, see if I had to take the crystal ball.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
It's hard to pick.
Speaker 4 (23:51):
His defense wins championships and we saw what the Oklahoma
State game change the landscape for you guys down the stretch.
It really is impactful. Coach, it's im mediate's job to
you know, paint the picture and obviously do it the
right way. But you've heard it probably final four run
pos and it's all because centered around you know, the team.
But aj debonsa, there's no secret to it. What has
(24:13):
he looked like since he's been in practice? He had
mentioned before he goes off to do some things, and
why is this team poised for that type of run
this season?
Speaker 2 (24:22):
Yeah? I mean to the to age.
Speaker 3 (24:26):
I mean, the thing I love about him and I
don't know if people understand is about his game is
He's a very highly intelligent player that really knows how
to play.
Speaker 2 (24:36):
Been really impressed with you know, his passing.
Speaker 3 (24:38):
You know, I think a locket's made of how athletic
he is and and this, that and the other. But
he's just a really good basketball player that you know,
he can play with the ball in his hands. He
can play with the ball, you can play off the
ball as well. I think he could be an All
League defensive player as well. And so he really does
have you know a lot of things that are winning
qualities that will definitely try to highlight and pull out,
(25:01):
you know, as it relates to the you know, the
final four, this.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
That and the other.
Speaker 3 (25:05):
I mean, like I said before, man, every every year
is a different animal. Just because we had a run
this this season does not you know, mean anything going
into this coming year.
Speaker 2 (25:15):
So we got a lot of work cutout for us. Man,
we got a lot of new guys.
Speaker 3 (25:19):
I do love the fact that you know, Caba and
Ritchie and Dawson and the high low uh, you know,
guys that played you know, significant minutes for us on
last year's team are back. I think that's really important.
Especially I think that kind of can get lost in
today's age of transfer, portal and this and that, but
more anthem.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
I just like the group that we have.
Speaker 3 (25:38):
Obviously, you know AJ is gonna get a lot of
the headlines, but I think we got We tried really
hard to put together an actual team, you know, not
just go out and try to just get names and
so forth. We try to put together a group of
guys that can fit next to AJ, can fit next
to Richie, can fit next to Kaba, where Dawson can
come in and do his thing, and so forth, and
(25:58):
so I think that's really important, especially like I said
in today's landscape and where we end up at the
end of the season.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Based on all that, I think that's the beauty of sport.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
You know, you're gonna play the games as they say,
so based on what I'm seeing here at this I
think we'll have a lot of people watching.
Speaker 2 (26:16):
You will have a lot of people watching.
Speaker 4 (26:18):
I told Tyson I would ask this because I wanted
me to take the blame and not him.
Speaker 2 (26:23):
I told him I would do it and say, coach
can be mad a ron for bringing it up.
Speaker 4 (26:27):
I just got the email about the golf tournament, right,
That's that's what they do. I told Tyson I would ask,
and now I will let coach shut me down personally.
But I've given my pitches. The media member, would you
love to see just forty fifty six year old men
uncoordinated at basketball church ball play a media game and
just watch us in varius ourselves there?
Speaker 2 (26:49):
They're any way of entertaining that. See see see I said.
Speaker 4 (26:53):
The response I expect, I said, if it came from me,
it'd be better not from him, but intriguing.
Speaker 2 (26:58):
I always saw the jazz to do that exactly. Yeah,
So so I may have to.
Speaker 3 (27:03):
I may have to holler at some of our of
our counterparts up north and see how it went over.
Make sure there was no blown a c ls, heels
or hammies. There's a lot of things you gotta worry
about when you start talking.
Speaker 2 (27:14):
Well his thing.
Speaker 4 (27:15):
I won the m v P the last time, and
I was like, this is stuff, this is what is spot?
No No no, no, no no, no, here's the zero. I
played rugby and that was at my years rump. But
no no, I've had people texting me, hey, it's only
room for one r W three. Rob Right would smoke me.
It's not I'm not doing that. If I could score
(27:35):
one basket, maybe I could have the trade clause. No, no, no,
but it's just it's a fun opportunity to get it together.
But uh, I like to beat up on, you know,
forty fifty year old men that can't run, you know,
because I'm I'm a young guy, so I like to
mess with them.
Speaker 2 (27:47):
But no, it's it's something I said I would break
up to see a coach. Who you Who you going
at the most? That's the question. Oh man, let's see
I'm going at the most.
Speaker 4 (27:56):
Well, there is a guy that works the Desert News.
I won't say his name because I gonna sit on there.
I'll tell you off record, but he tried to block
my shot and the posted a picture about what happened
if it got blocked, and I was like, you know,
I scored that basket. He tried to push the bast
and I won't say any names. And then there's another
media member. I'm not gonna say his name, but there
was a guy behind me and I was coaching against Trevor.
(28:17):
You can ask him. Spencer Johnson was our coach. Channel
one guy back just like I thought he played rugby,
because you know, it's pick up you're not trying to
have a blown aco.
Speaker 2 (28:25):
And I thought he played rugby.
Speaker 4 (28:26):
I thought he'd be better than this, and that made
me mad, and that got me upset because I was
trying to be chill and I looked at some of
the old coaches. Davis says, no, I'm angry, and then
I say, you know what, forget this three and D stuff.
I just drove like six times in a row, and
like Tyson, there's a picture of him like fouled me
out of midair. My stomach is led up, my guts
hanging out. It's bad now, It's just it was a
(28:47):
fun time to like play with everybody.
Speaker 2 (28:49):
Kenny Cox.
Speaker 4 (28:50):
It's just a fun time to interact with the guys,
and it's good. It gave opportunity to see what it's
like because practice to try to dribble like go this
is difficult. So it makes you think the next time
you want to write something in your article, you know,
think twice of how difficult it.
Speaker 2 (29:03):
Is to practice on that level.
Speaker 3 (29:04):
I mean that I may have to put y'all up
on press row like this and then have our guys
ask y'all questions that they did.
Speaker 4 (29:13):
They asked questions how does it feel, you know? And
I said, and there were guys joking like Mitch Harper Cassel, Yeah,
I might have to go into the portal. It might
be I might have to get Trevin Dale let me
down like it was. It was just a funny because
again I talk about the funny. It lets you know,
like basketball is not everything, and it shows their job
is harder than what it is. I think people really think, oh,
it's easy to shoot a three. Actually it's not. Though
(29:35):
it's more tough than you.
Speaker 2 (29:36):
Think is, especially when you got to run back on defense.
So there was no defense in the game.
Speaker 4 (29:42):
Coach, it was all fast breaks, asked jam Jordan, he played,
it was all fast breaks.
Speaker 5 (29:49):
So when I was at b y U, I don't
know if he still does this, but Lee Kamard was
on an intermural team. I don't know how that's legal
because he would come out and yeah, twenty year olds,
but I guess because he's an employee of the university.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
It's a low. Do you get to play ball at all?
Do you ever get to just go shoot or.
Speaker 5 (30:05):
Behind the scenes coaching scouting, do you ever get to
just put up baskets?
Speaker 2 (30:09):
Uh? When I was when I was coaching the NBA.
Speaker 3 (30:11):
I actually would we'd play a lot, a lot with
the staffs and so forth. Uh, it's getting harder. I
had a back injury. Actually that kind of put me
down for a while. But I will say that we
had the father and sons camp. Uh them, I didn't
you know.
Speaker 2 (30:27):
I was like kind of like you, I'm just gonna
go into it. I'm just gonna be kind of chill.
And then there was there was.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
A few people that were going hard. So your boy
had it hit a couple.
Speaker 5 (30:37):
It's said, I took that personally over he's looking at
the video eleven.
Speaker 4 (30:45):
Okay, I got you check this out, oh man coaching everything.
We just got to give you a gain Mini. Congrats
to you, Freshet. You don't need it, but phenomenal work.
Year two is gonna be great. You got a great staff,
great players. It's been great to interview today. We probably
took way too much of your time than Nita. We
will definitely let you get back to being with the fans,
but thanks for your time today.
Speaker 2 (31:04):
We appreciate it.
Speaker 3 (31:04):
Noah, I appreciate you guys, appreciate all the all you
guys do to cover you know, not just BUYU basketball.
Speaker 2 (31:10):
But all the sports as well.
Speaker 3 (31:12):
I'm excited for, you know, some of the sports that
are coming up in season. I'm a big fan of
all the athletic programs, so appreciate you guys having me on.
Speaker 4 (31:21):
He's been called in four k at at the football
games and other athletics as well. You can see him
him and Adrian Wolskonoski. You might catch him again at
another BAU football game. Guys, that has been great catching
up with coach Kevin. You'll we'll go to break, take
a long break. We'll be back.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Don't go anywhere.
Speaker 4 (31:36):
We're live from Redmond Heritage Farm Store here in orm
At four twenty West eight hundred north in orm Utah.
You gotta try the raw milk eye down some more
of it. I stopped because I didn't want to throw
up from doing the gallon challenge, and I got a
text message actually from my wife saying slow down and
stop doing that.
Speaker 2 (31:52):
We'll go to break.
Speaker 4 (31:53):
Don't go anywhere more Cougar Sports on a flip right
here on one on three point nine and ninety eight
point three ESPN.
Speaker 2 (31:58):
The Fan
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